Letter to the Editor: Poppies Blossomed in Record Numbers Again this Year

Nov 16, 2016

The 2016 Legion Poppy Campaign marked another milestone and I want to thank all Canadians for your support towards our campaign.

Indeed, more than 21.5 million Poppies were provided through our Legion Branches this year – an increase of almost ½ million from last year’s campaign.

We may all take comfort with this growing awareness amongst Canadians. It is an awareness to remember the more than 117,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

We may also rejoice in the knowledge that the money collected during this campaign will assist Veterans who are in need of financial help within their local communities. Such assistance could include the provision of housing accommodation or care facilities, medical training and research, drop-in centres and meals on wheels, accessibility modifications and other quality of life needs such as wheel chairs, prosthetics or for transition programs for Veterans related to their training, education and support needs.

As President of the Legion, I also want to thank our thousands of volunteers whose dedication to this 90th annual campaign has ensured that Canadians of all ages remember the great sacrifices that have been made for the freedoms we all enjoy today.